Everyone is using some sort of cloud application these days to conduct business - in the office, at home, on the road, and everywhere else service is available for a smart phone or mobile device. The client server software hayday is mostly over as companies are realising they don’t want the responsibility of owning depreciable assets, the capital expense of a refresh every 5 years and the headaches involved with software licensing. And these are mainly financial and administrative concerns. Here are 5 reasons you should adopt more cloud-based applications for your business. Files Are Available From Any Physical LocationNo matter where you happen to be, you'll have access to the files that you need – anytime of day or night. A cloud-based file structure allows you to securely and instantly retrieve and make updates to information from your mobile devices or any computer with secure internet access. This makes it easier for employees to work in a way that best fits their lifestyle while still providing superior service levels.Collaboration Becomes EasierThere are dozens of times each day when a staff member may need to share information with customers or external vendors. While emailing files is no longer considered secure, sharing files in the cloud is a different story. Cloud services provide secure, trusted links that you can feel confident sharing with vendors and partners. Each link can be set to expire at a certain time in the future, or only be available for specific individuals. This helps protect your business information from being shared beyond the intended viewing audience for the files.Add More Structure To Your FoldersOver time, any folder and file naming convention is bound to become less structured. New individuals take over positions and teams shift, and then it can become increasingly difficult to find the files that you need quickly. Making a shift to the cloud provides you with a fresh start where you can introduce new structures and encourage adoption from your organisation.Tightly Control File SecurityA key security requirement is limiting the number of individuals who are able to access specific files and folder locations. Having too many people with access to information can cause all manner of problems, and shared passwords are another primary concern for today's organisations. With cloud-based file structures, you control access by work-group and individual to files and folders, ensuring that staff members and contractors only have access to the information that they need within your organisation.Enjoy The Fruits Of InnovationWith cloud applications, new features and upgrades are regular and bountiful. And they don’t require hardware and operating system upgrades which reduces the time it takes your team to start maximising the productivity benefits. In some instances, cloud versions of client server software are not as feature rich. But don’t worry, large application hosting providers are addressing this problem by offering full featured versions in secure data centres with expensive server infrastructure they lease and manage. Ready to explore adding more cloud applications to your business? Contact us today to start the conversation.

If you want to use your laptop in an airport, a co-working space, or a cafe, the first thing you would look for is a power socket. If you are not lucky enough to find an available outlet, you'll have to depend on your laptop's battery (assuming it still has power after your last charge). The following tips should optimise your laptop's battery so it will last long. Some truths about your laptop battery Batteries in many modern devices are lithium-based — either lithium-ion or lithium-polymer — and users must take note of the following guidelines for proper battery maintenance: Leaving your battery completely drained will damage it.Batteries have limited lifespans. So no matter what you do, yours will age from the very first time you charge it. This is because as time passes, the ions will no longer be able to flow efficiently from the anode to the cathode, thereby reducing the battery’s capacity. What else can degrade your battery Besides being naturally prone to deterioration, your battery can degrade due to higher-than-normal voltages, which happens when you keep your battery fully charged at all times. Even though a modern laptop battery cannot be overcharged, doing so will stress and harm your battery. Both extremely high temperatures (above 70°F) and low temperatures (32–41°F) can also reduce battery capacity and damage its components. The same goes for storing a battery for long periods of time, which can lead to the state of extreme discharge. Another factor is physical damage. Remember that batteries are made up of sensitive materials, and sustaining a shock from a fall or similar  can damage them. How to prolong your battery life Now that you know some facts about your laptop battery, it’s time to learn how to delay its demise: Never leave your battery completely drained.Don’t expose your battery to extremely high or low temperatures.If possible, charge your battery at a lower voltage.If you need to use your laptop for a long period of time while plugged into a power source, it’s better to remove the battery. This is because a plugged-in laptop generates more heat that will damage your battery.When you need to store your battery for a few weeks, you should recharge your battery to 40% and remove it from your laptop for storage. These are just a few tips on extending the life of your hardware. There are many more ways you can maximise your hardware efficiency and extend its longevity. Call our expert IT team now on 011 435 0450 or contact us today to find out more!

From accounting to inventory, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) need various systems to function, and managing them simultaneously is a colossal task. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can help you manage these systems efficiently and improve business performance. ERP explained ERP is a program that integrates all your systems into a single database, so if you want to take a look at human resources, accounting, or sales, you only need to access one system instead of three. In practice, this means that everyone, regardless of department, will be able to access the same information. This also means that employees will no longer have to re-enter data onto their department-specific database, because all databases will already have been linked. Deeper insight Simplicity isn’t the only merit of an ERP, however. A single database lets you see all information across every branch of your business and gain actionable insights that enable you to make more informed decisions. Financial reporting, for example, benefits a lot from Enterprise resource planning , since general ledgers, revenue recognition, and tax reporting functionality are built into most Enterprise Resource Planning software solutions. In addition to this, ERP systems come equipped with business intelligence features that provide intuitive analysis into your operations and forecast the growth of your company. This helps you and other executives identify bottlenecks and business opportunities. Better customer service ERP makes better and faster customer service possible. For instance, if a customer asks whether or not an item is still in stock, customer service representatives can easily access the ERP database and provide a quick answer, instead of having to ask the supply manager. Simplified compliance With an ERP, meeting stringent data management regulations is much easier. That’s because the software generally comes with audit functionality, giving you full visibility into your processes. It also provides templates and guidance to help you meet regulations within your industry, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the International Financial Reporting Standards. Streamlined workflows with ERP ERP streamlines workflows by eliminating redundant and time-consuming tasks through automation. For one, you can set your ERP to instantly reorder materials when stock levels have reached a certain threshold. This ensures that your enterprise won’t have to deal with out-of-stock or overstocking incidents. Moreover, you can even assign workflows that route invoices and reimbursements to the right accountant to make sure tasks are handled quickly and efficiently. Rich integrations One of the most beautiful things about ERP is its integration capabilities: you can integrate it with other services to extend its capabilities. For example, if you need to track customer information and sales figures, you can combine ERP with customer relationship management software or pair it with e-commerce services to streamline web-based purchases. This way, your processes will be seamless and everything you need will be at your fingertips. As your business grows, your business needs change as well. ERP systems can adapt to your ever-changing needs by giving you unparalleled business management solutions. If you need to add further value to your business, Contact Multi IT today or give us a call on 011 435 0450.